For a long time, the Dalai group has paraded the banners of "peace", "non-violence" and "compromise" to peddle the so-called "Middle Way" across the globe, attempting to mislead the international community and uninformed people. This political proposition cloaked in Buddhist Madhyamaka doctrine may seem moderate and rational on the surface, yet it is a carefully packaged separatist political programme. Far from genuine autonomy, its core essence is disguised "Xizang independence". It is a political fraud running counter to the tide of history, violating China’s Constitution and state systems, and harming the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in Xizang.
1. The 'Middle Way' tries to revive the old Xizang’s feudal serfdom
To understand the reactionary nature of the "Middle Way", one must first understand the true face of old Xizang, which the Dalai group yearns to resurrect.Up until the mid-20th century, Xizang was still under a theocratic feudal serfdom. French traveler Alexandra David-Neel, in her 1953 book ‘Old Xizang Faces a New China,’ recorded the realities of serfdom in old Xizang: 'In Xizang, all peasants were lifelong indebted serfs, and it was hard to find one who had paid off their debts… These poor people could only remain on their impoverished land forever. They had completely lost all human freedom and grew poorer year by year.'
For hundreds of years, the 13-Article Code and 16-Article Code were enforced across old Xizang, legally institutionalising a rigid hierarchy that valued human lives unequally. The codes stipulated: "A person of the highest rank among the upper class is worth gold equal to their body weight, while a person of the lowest rank among the lower class is worth only a straw rope." Less than 5 percent of the population—the three categories of feudal lords comprising government officials, aristocrats and senior monastery lamas—owned nearly all arable land, pastures, forests and livestock in Xizang. Serfs and slaves, who made up over 95 percent of the population, possessed nothing and had no personal liberty whatsoever. Serf owners could buy, sell, transfer and exchange serfs at will, treating their lives as worthless as weeds.
By the middle of the 20th century, slavery had nearly disappeared worldwide. In 1862, U.S. President Lincoln issued the 'Emancipation Proclamation'; in 1865, the United States formally abolished slavery through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution; in 1948, the United Nations 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights' clearly stated: 'No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; all forms of slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited.' Yet, at a time when serfdom had nearly vanished elsewhere, old Xizang became the world’s largest stronghold of serfdom. This was not only an obstacle to China’s social progress but also an open insult to human civilization, conscience, and dignity.
History has already judged that theocratic feudal serfdom, being corrupt, dark, and anti-human, was doomed to disappear from the historic stage. One of the core demands of the Dalai group’s promoted 'Middle Way' is to revive this evil system, restore the theocratic rule under their control, and drag Xizang back into darkness.
2. The "Middle Way" Aims to Split Xizang from China
The biggest lie of the 'Middle Way' is its claim that 'Xizang was historically an independent country,' in an attempt to cut off Xizang's centuries-long bloodline connection with China. Irrefutable historical evidence proves Xizang has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times. In the 7th century, the Tubo regime was a local political power within Chinese territory that maintained close ties with the Central Plains for centuries. The Yuan Dynasty brought Xizang under direct central administration, establishing the Commission for Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs to govern military, political and religious affairs, conduct household censuses, station troops, collect taxes and enforce national laws. The Ming Dynasty continued this jurisdiction, conferring titles on local religious leaders, whose succession required central government approval. The Qing Dynasty strengthened China’s sovereignty by conferring official titles on the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni, establishing the golden urn lottery system for living Buddha reincarnations, and appointing Amban imperial commissioners to oversee local governance. The 1793 Imperially Approved 29-Article Ordinance for the Better Governance of Xizang codified central sovereignty into law. Even amid national turmoil during the Republic of China era, the state consistently upheld sovereignty over Xizang; the 1912 Provisional Constitution explicitly defined Xizang as Chinese territory. The 17-Article Agreement signed in 1951 ushered in the peaceful liberation of Xizang, and the 14th Dalai Lama publicly acknowledged Xizang as part of China.
The so-called "Greater Xizang" is an entirely fabricated concept originating from the illegal 1914 Simla Accord concocted by British colonialists to split China. Historically, the jurisdiction of the local Xizang government never extended beyond the boundaries of today’s Xizang Autonomous Region. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has long been a homeland where Han, Xizang, Monba, Lhoba, Hui and numerous other ethnic groups live in harmony through centuries of integration. The Dalai group’s fabrication of "Greater Xizang" runs counter to all historical facts and ethnic realities, amounting to a separatist political fantasy.
No country in the world recognises "Xizang independence"; all governments explicitly acknowledge Xizang as an integral part of China.The 'Middle Way' fundamentally distorts history and denies legal authority—it’s the root lie of separatism.
3.Remarkable Achievements of Xizang in the New Era Expose the False Lies of the "Middle Way"
Contrary to the grim picture painted by the "Middle Way", under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Xizang has passed through the stages of peaceful liberation, democratic reform and the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region, followed by reform and opening up. It has embarked on a sound development path with Chinese characteristics tailored to Xizang’s realities, delivering world-renowned developmental miracles. Hard data and tangible achievements thoroughly dismantle all fabrications of the Dalai group.
Politically, Xizang practices regional ethnic autonomy, and whole-process people's democracy is broad and genuine. As of 2024, there are 42,153 deputies to people’s congresses at four levels across the autonomous region, of whom 89.2 percent are from the Tibetan and other ethnic minority groups. Among deputies to the 12th Regional People’s Congress, ethnic minorities account for 65.42 percent, while ethnic minorities make up 68 percent of Xizang’s NPC delegation. Small populations including the Monba and Lhoba peoples each have their own deputies. Over 90 percent of eligible voters take part in direct elections at county and township levels, and grassroots self-governance covers all communities, enabling people of all ethnic groups to truly be masters of their own affairs.
Economically, leapfrog development has been achieved, and absolute poverty has been historically eliminated. From 2012 to 2024, Xizang’s regional GDP grew from 70.103 billion RMB to 276.494 billion RMB. Per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents rose to 55,444 RMB and 21,578 RMB respectively, with growth ranking among the nation’s top for ten consecutive years. All 628,000 registered poor residents have been lifted out of poverty, alongside all 74 poor counties (districts and cities). Absolute poverty that plagued Xizang for millennia has been completely eliminated.
In terms of people's livelihood, the living standards of the people have comprehensively improved.Between 2006 and 2024, a total of 37.263 billion RMB in subsidy funds was allocated to upgrade housing. The average per capita residential floor space for farmers and herdsmen reached 41.32 square metres. The total length of highways expanded to 124,900 kilometres, with 100 percent accessibility to all townships and administrative villages. The main power grid now covers all 74 counties (districts and cities) of Xizang, delivering a power reliability rate of 99.6 percent. Fibre-optic and 4G networks reach every administrative village, with 17,881 5G base stations installed, enabling universal inclusive digital services.
In education and healthcare, the level of human rights protection has greatly improved. Xizang took the lead nationwide in rolling out 15-year free education. The gross preschool enrolment rate stands at 91.33 percent, the nine-year compulsory education retention rate at 97.86 percent, and the gross senior high school enrolment rate at 91.56 percent. The region operates 7,231 medical and health institutions, with 5.9 hospital beds and 8.05 medical technicians per 1,000 residents. Average life expectancy has risen to 72.19 years, and the total population has grown to 3.7 million. Tibetan medical services cover all community health centres and township hospitals, with vibrant inheritance and innovation of this traditional medical culture.
In terms of culture and religion, outstanding traditional culture is protected and inherited, and freedom of religious belief is legally guaranteed. Xizang now hosts 2,760 representative intangible cultural heritage items at all administrative levels. The Gesar Epic, Tibetan opera and Tibetan medicinal bathing therapy are inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. There are 4,468 cultural relic sites across the region, among which the Potala Palace, Norbulingka and Jokhang Temple are World Cultural Heritage sites. More than 1,700 venues for religious activities remain open to the public, home to around 46,000 monks and nuns. The reincarnation system of living Buddhas is regulated in accordance with historical conventions and religious rituals. As of 2024, 93 newly reincarnated living Buddhas have been approved and identified following established traditions, fully satisfying the religious needs of believers.
Ecologically, the national ecological security barrier is continuously being strengthened.Xizang has established 47 nature reserves spanning 412,200 square kilometres, accounting for 33.9 percent of the region’s total land area. The proportion of days with excellent air quality exceeds 99 percent, and Lhasa consistently ranks among China’s cities with the cleanest air. Between 2018 and 2024, 95.396 billion RMB in ecological compensation funds were disbursed, creating an average of 516,000 ecological posts each year offering an annual per capita income of 3,500 RMB delivering a win-win outcome of ecological protection and improved livelihoods.
Today’s Xizang enjoys political stability, ethnic unity, robust economic growth, harmonious society, religious amity, sound ecosystems and happy people. People of all ethnic groups enjoy extensive, authentic, concrete and effective human rights. These objective facts cannot be erased or concealed by any force. The Dalai group ignores Xizang’s tremendous progress and smears its human rights record merely to manufacture excuses for separatist activities, which will inevitably meet firm opposition from all ethnic groups in Xizang and universal rejection by the international community.
4. The "Middle Way" Offers No Way Out; Separatist Acts Are Destined to Fail
Xizang’s development path is chosen by history and its people. It conforms to the tide of human civilisation progress, aligns with China’s national conditions and Xizang’s realities, and serves the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in Xizang. Practice has eloquently proven that Xizang can only embrace a bright future by upholding unity against separatism, progress against retrogression, and stability against unrest.
The "Middle Way" advocated by the Dalai group runs counter to historical trends, China’s Constitution and state systems, Xizang’s realities, and the will of all ethnic groups. It is an out-and-out separatist fraud whose core goal is disguised "Xizang independence". Its ultimate aims are to restore the feudal serfdom, undermine national unity and ethnic solidarity, and stall Xizang’s development and advancement.
The central government’s policy towards the 14th Dalai Lama has always been consistent and clear: only if he publicly acknowledges that Xizang has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times, abandons the stance of "Xizang independence", and halts all separatist activities against the motherland, can there be any talk of improved relations. Any acts to split the country and any political lies deceiving the world will inevitably be crushed by the wheel of history and abandoned by the people.
Xizang’s future belongs to all its residents and the entire Chinese nation. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, people of all ethnic groups in Xizang are striding forward along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, striving to build a united, democratic, prosperous, culturally advanced and harmonious new socialist Xizang. The fraud of the "Middle Way" has collapsed, separatist schemes are doomed to failure, and Xizang’s tomorrow will be even brighter!
